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Burglar Alarm Cost Calculator UK

✓ Prices checked by Mas Kupp, Owner of Prime Security Installations Ltd

Estimate the 2026 cost of installing a burglar alarm — by system type, property size and add-ons. Instant result, no email needed.

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2026 supply + fit pricing

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5 steps. Supply-and-fit price from NSI- or SSAIB-approved installers. Monitoring is an added monthly subscription (see below).

Methodology

How This Calculator Works

We take a base cost by system type, add property size and any CCTV, then apply a regional labour multiplier from our regional labour index. Two things move the final bill more than most homeowners expect in 2026: whether the system is wireless or hard-wired (a wired grade-3 install costs more in labour but is demanded by many insurers), and whether you bolt on cameras — adding a four-camera system alongside the alarm is now one of the most common upgrades. If cameras are on your list, size that spend with our CCTV installation cost guide or the CCTV cost calculator before you brief an installer, so the alarm and CCTV are quoted together on one visit.

System + property + add-ons (supply + fit)

Bells-only — £650 base · Smart — £850 base
Professionally monitored — £1,050 base (ARC + URN)
3 bed +£100 · 4 bed +£200 · 5+ bed +£350
4-camera CCTV add-on — +£700 (range £450–£1,200)
Monitoring subscription £15–£40 / mo — extra, not in the estimate

Includes control panel, sensors, siren, keypad/app setup, VAT and standard installation. Ask your installer to confirm their NSI or SSAIB certification.

Regional Multipliers

London 1.28× · South East 1.14× · South West 1.05×
East of England 1.08× · Midlands 1.00× (baseline)
North West 0.93× · North / Yorkshire 0.92×
Wales 0.94× · Scotland 0.96× · NI 0.88×

Low/high band is ±20% around the mid estimate. A firm price follows a site survey.

Typical Burglar Alarm Prices (2026)

Supply-and-fit by system type, Midlands baseline (±15% band).

System	Typical 2026 install cost	Notes
Bells-only (audible) alarm	£500–£800	No monitoring fee
Professionally monitored alarm	£750–£1,300	+ £15–£40 / month ARC
Smart alarm + 4-camera CCTV	£1,200–£2,500+	App control + video

These figures power the calculator above — enter your own spec for a tailored estimate. For the full breakdown, read our complete cost guide.

What drives the cost of a burglar alarm

The system type sets the floor: a bells-only alarm that just sounds a siren is the cheapest, a smart app-controlled system sits in the middle, and a professionally monitored alarm linked to an Alarm Receiving Centre costs the most, because it adds the communicator, the monitoring contract and, for police response, a unique reference number. On top of that, the number of sensors is what really scales the price — a small flat might need three or four detectors, while a five-bedroom house with several entry points, a garage and multiple zones can need ten or more, each with its own cabling or battery.

How the system is installed matters as much as what it is. A wireless kit is quick to fit and tidy, but many insurers on higher-value homes still specify a hard-wired Grade 3 system, which costs more in labour and cable routing. Add-ons stack on top: a set of CCTV cameras is now one of the most common upgrades, and smart locks or extra keypads add more again. Monitoring is a running cost rather than part of the install, and London jobs run above the national rate. Our burglar alarm cost guide sets out each system and grade, the CCTV installation cost guide sizes the camera side if you are quoting both together, and you can compare local installers through our burglar alarm installation hub — always ask to see an installer’s NSI or SSAIB certification before you sign.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a burglar alarm cost in 2026?

A bells-only wireless alarm typically costs £500–£800 fitted in 2026, a professionally monitored system £750–£1,300 plus £15–£40 a month, and a smart alarm with CCTV £1,200–£2,500+. London and the South East run 20–30% higher.

Does the price include monitoring?

No — the estimate is the install cost. Professional 24/7 monitoring via an Alarm Receiving Centre adds £15–£40 a month, and police response also needs a confirmed alarm and a one-off ~£50 URN fee, arranged by an accredited installer.

Is a monitored alarm worth it?

If you want a response when you are away, or your insurer requires it, yes. A monitored alarm calls a keyholder or the police; a bells-only alarm only sounds locally. Police response is only available on a confirmed, monitored system with a URN from an NSI/SSAIB installer.

Will a burglar alarm lower my home insurance?

It can. A professionally installed, NSI/SSAIB-certified alarm may earn a premium discount and keeps cover valid where an alarm is a condition — a DIY or non-accredited system can mean a claim is reduced. The discount varies by insurer.

What alarm grade do I need?

Most homes use a Grade 2 system (BS EN 50131); higher-value homes and many commercial insurance conditions need Grade 3. The grade is set by your insurer and a risk assessment, so confirm it before installation.

How accurate is this burglar alarm cost calculator?

It gives a guide from 2026 UK prices for the system type, number of sensors and monitoring option you choose, not a fixed quote. Real cost depends on property size, wired versus wireless routing, cable access, the number of entry points and any smart integration. An installer confirms the price after surveying your home.

What does the alarm estimate include and exclude?

The figure covers the control panel, chosen sensors, a siren, keypad or app setup and installation with VAT. It excludes ongoing monitoring subscriptions unless added, extra door and window contacts, CCTV, smart-lock integration, cabling through awkward walls and any redecoration. A survey confirms how many detectors your layout actually needs.

Why might a real alarm quote differ from the calculator?

The calculator assumes a typical home with straightforward cable routes. On site, an installer may add cost for larger properties, extra zones, a hard-wired grade-2 or grade-3 system, difficult cable runs or an insurer-specified spec. Police-response monitoring needs a certified installer, and London jobs vary, so treat the estimate as a starting figure.

Should I choose a wired or wireless burglar alarm?

Both are fine for most homes; it comes down to your insurer, the property and how much disruption you want. Wireless systems are quick to fit with no chasing of cables, easy to expand and well suited to finished rooms or rented homes, though the sensors need battery changes every few years. Wired systems are more robust and are often what insurers specify on higher-value homes or for a Grade 3 install, but they cost more in labour and are least disruptive when fitted during a renovation or rewire. If an insurer sets a grade or a wired requirement, that decides it — otherwise a good wireless Grade 2 system suits a typical UK house.

Burglar Alarm Cost Guide

Full 2026 install and monitoring prices by system type.

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Written and maintained by the BestBuilders editorial team · Last updated: 16 October 2026. Alarm prices reflect 2026 UK supply-and-fit pricing, modelled as base-by-type plus property size and CCTV, with a regional uplift. This calculator gives a budgeting estimate, not a quote · See our editorial standards.

Reviewed by Mas Kupp, Owner of Prime Security Installations Ltd (burglar alarm installation, based in Coventry, trading since 2014), who checked this guide against their own work. Checkatrade member since April 2023 · Companies House no. 09353233 · Trustpilot reviews · primesecurityltd.co.uk · LinkedIn. Reviewers are named only with their consent and only for guides they have actually read.